Half-Day Retreats
These retreats are a good way to get a taste of a Chan retreat. Half-day retreats run from 9am to 12:00 pm. They include sitting and walking meditation, eight-form moving meditation, mindful yoga, and a dharma talk. Anyone who has taken the beginner’s meditation workshop or have previous experience in Chan/Zen practice are welcome to join. Registration required.
One-day Retreat
These full day of meditation practices not only immerse you in peace and quietude but also infuse new energy and stability to your busy lives. They reinforce your everyday practice and prepares you for more serious practice, intensive residential meditation retreats.
One-day retreats run from 10am to 4pm. They include several sitting periods, walking (outdoor walking if weather permits), mindful yoga, eight-form moving meditation, dharma talks and one-on-one afternoon interview with the teacher. Registration required.
Weekend Retreat
These weekend retreats start on Friday evening and end on Sunday afternoon. They follow the traditional Chan monastery schedule, starting early in the morning and making the most efficient use of time in concentrated group practice. There are numerous thirty-minute sitting periods throughout the day.
In addition to sitting meditation, the retreat also includes mindful work practice, walking meditation, chanting, and gentle yoga exercises. Interviews with the teacher are available for direct guidance regarding the method of practice, and daily Dharma talks elucidate the details of investigating one’s mind.
This weekend intensive is an opportunity to strengthen your practice by sitting together with other experienced practitioners. It is also excellent preparation for our longer intensive retreats.
All residential weekend retreats are held at Dharma Drum Vancouver Centre in Richmond, BC. Registration required.
Intensive Seven-day Retreat
Intensive retreats are the entry point for serious Chan study and practice. Efficiently designed, they follow the traditional Chan monastery retreat schedule: waking up at 5am and ending at 10pm each day, then immerse yourself in alternating periods of sitting, mindful yoga, eight-form movements and walking meditation throughout. They are designed to allow you to wholeheartedly devote your energies in applying the meditation method.
For people who have established a routine personal practice and attended at least one three-day retreat, the intensive seven-day retreat is the gateway for you to deepen your practice. Personal interviews with the teachers are available for you to receive direct guidance. Dharma talks are given daily to shed light on your practice and understanding of Buddhadharma.
All intensive residential retreats are held at Dharma Drum Vancouver Centre in Richmond, BC.